California could be hit by another, even more powerful earthquake within days after southern California was rocked by its worst tremor in 20 years on Thursday, experts believe.
Geologists say yesterday's 6.4-magnitude quake is likely to produce a forceful 5.5-strength aftershock and a series of smaller tremors - and could even prompt a larger one.
In addition, officials admitted that a new Los Angeles earthquake warning app had not sent out a public alert despite the most powerful Southern California quake since 1999.
The ShakeAlert system detected the quake but did not trigger a public warning because the magnitude was less than 5.0 in Los Angeles, city bosses said.
The Fourth of July quake cracked roads, caused fires and broke power lines, although there were no serious injuries reported.
Today residents in the small desert city of Ridgecrest were set to begin the clean-up while two houses were damaged by fire from broken gas pipes.
The quake also drew the attention of a series of California-based celebrities, including Trevor Noah, Ashley Tisdale, and Ava DuVernay, who said: 'That was the longest earthquake I've ever experienced.'
Speaking to SFGate, U.S. Geological Survey expert Susan Hough said: 'For a 6.5 quake you'd expect a lot of aftershocks. You'd expect the biggest to be 5.5 and so far the biggest has been 4.7.
'With any earthquake, there is a 5 percent chance something even bigger will happen within the next three days. If it did, it would be in the same remote area.'
Los Angeles city bosses have promised to revamp the ShakeAlert system after residents did not receive a notification about the quake.
'The ShakeAlert app only sends alerts if shaking is 5.0+ in LA County. Epicenter was 6.4 in Kern County, USGS confirms LA's shaking was 4.5,' a statement said.
'We hear you and will lower the alert threshold.'
ShakeAlert detected the quake, giving 48 seconds of warning to the seismology lab before the shaking arrived in Pasadena.
Officials in San Bernardino County said the quake caused water mains to break, downed power lines, cracked buildings and caused rock slides on roads.
In the small desert city of Ridgecrest near the epicenter of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake, grocery store aisles were littered with smashed bottles, jars and packages.
'I mopped up over 20 gallons of wine that fell over in addition to the beer, soda and the cooler that fell over. We have several thousand dollars worth of damage,' said shopkeeper James Wilhorn.
Water gushed up from zigzagged cracks in the pavement from busted water lines, while deep fissures snaked across the Mojave Desert.
People from Las Vegas to the Pacific Coast reported feeling a rolling motion that shook shower doors and made hanging dining room lights sway.
At least four large aftershocks have been recorded, measuring 4.7, 3.5, 3.8 and 4.2 magnitude, officials said.
No comments:
Post a Comment